It was Very Orange
Woman in the Middle | October 31, 2012
Sometimes something another blogger does inspires me to write my own post. Today’s post was inspired by Leann, the Ironic Mom. She asked about the best/worst, weirdest Halloween costume you have ever worn. Just seeing that questions instantly made me hearken back to Halloween 1970. It is actually one of only two Halloween costumes I remember from my childhood.
For some reason my Mom decided that year that I would be a pumpkin. I can’t imagine that my nine year old self actually came up with this idea. I wonder if my mother was inspired by the roundness that was her little daughter at that time? Hum, I guess I will never know. We had a costume contest every year at school and I think my mother was feeling particularly competitive that year. Several yards of bright orange fabric were purchased and my mother whipped up a big orange sack for me to wear. It had leg holes and a hole for my head, but no arm holes. I guess pumpkins had no arms. I stepped into the big orange sack and my mom stuffed it with crumpled newspaper to make me look nice and round. The stem was a bit of a problem but mom’s eyes finally landed on the box that held a Barbie head, you know, the one whose hair you could style? it was a perfect hexagonal shape and mom covered it with brown paper bags and cut two small holes for me to see out of. We completed the ensemble with green tights. I remember standing on the pavement on the playground with my mom and trying to point out my third grade teacher to her. It is a little hard because my arms weren’t available and my head was in a box.
That night, for trick or treating, Mom ripped a hole for each arm in the seams for me. And, for safety, I wore a witches hat, not the stem/box. Oh, and I didn’t win any prizes in the school costume parade in spite of Mom’s effort. But she did create an indelible memory. I still have the pumpkin sack/costume. I didn’t make either of my children wear it, though.
The other costume I remember was the year I was a bunny. I was much younger and mom attached a pair or bunny ears to a little white hat I had. She glued a white fluffy power puff to a large campaign type button and pinned it to my pants. I think the reason I remember this costume so well is because she pinned the button on my pants while I was still wearing them! I am happy to report that she didn’t poke me but I do remember the concern I felt while it was being pinned on!
Tell me about the memorable costumes of your childhood Halloweens!
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